The Hoiby Trial: Court proceedings on domestic violence indictment completed

After four weeks, the second phase of seven-week trial against Marius Borg Hoiby is completed. The complainant is Nora Haukland. Today, Hoiby was also charged with new offences.

March 3, 2026 | SOCIETY

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The trial against Marius Borg Hoiby

The trial began on 3 February and at that time included 38 counts, read more here.

The weekend before the trial began, however, Hoiby was charged and arrested for new offences for which he is now being held in pre-trial detention. Today, he was indicted for these offences: reckless behaviour and violation of a restraining order. Hoiby admits criminal guilt for these new counts, and the indictment will be included in the trial that is now ongoing.

The first phase of the trial concerned four rape charges involving four different women, read about the court proceedings of these here.

Domestic violence

The hearing of this count began on 20 February and constitutes the second phase of the trial. Hoiby does not admit criminal guilt. The prosecution bases the count on 15 specific incidents, find a link to these in the sources at the bottom. For Hoiby to be convicted of this count, the court must find it proven that Nora Haukland lived in a regime characterised by insecurity and violations (a regime of fear).

Haukland and Hoiby are said to have first lived together in her apartment in Oslo, but at one point moved to a house at Skaugum located a couple of hundred metres from the Crown Prince family’s residence.

Nora Haukland’s testimony

The court proceedings began with Nora Haukland’s testimony. Haukland testified about a turbulent relationship in which arguments escalated into verbal and physical abuse. Jealousy and infidelity, as well as Haukland’s work as an influencer, are said to have been recurring themes in the conflicts. According to Haukland, she received messages from others stating that Hoiby was unfaithful and she therefore wanted to check his phone. Furthermore, Haukland explains that Hoiby was jealous and controlling towards her; he wanted to set limits on the type of assignments Haukland undertook and how she was dressed in photos and videos — he also wanted to set limits on how she dressed in private. Haukland explains that this affected which work assignments she could take, her income and her social life.

According to Haukland, the verbal abusive arguments on several occasions escalated to a level where Hoiby smashed his phone, damaged inventory and punched holes in a door and wall. Furthermore, he is said to have exercised physical violence against her. She recounts slaps with an open hand, punches to the face with a fist, kicks to the back while she lay on the floor and choking. She is said to have sustained scratch marks, bruises and a split lip following these incidents. Haukland explains that this led to her walking on eggshells and that she changed her behaviour to avoid Hoiby’s anger. Haukland, however, admits that she has slapped Hoiby in the face with an open hand.

Haukland also testified about Hoiby’s cocaine abuse and explains that this was one of the reasons they moved to Skaugum; she wanted to help Marius by getting him away from the party environment in Oslo. When the relationship ended, Crown Princess Mette-Marit is said to have ensured that a door in which Hoiby had punched a hole was repaired. Furthermore, Haukland asked Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon to intervene and ensure that Marius entered drug rehabilitation. She is said later to have received a response that Hoiby did not go to rehabilitation because he wanted to wait until there were younger clients at the treatment facility; those who were there were too old.

Marius Borg Hoiby’s testimony

Hoiby’s testimony is in many respects similar to that given by Haukland; he acknowledges that he has a substance abuse problem and that they had loud arguments based on her work as an influencer. However, he claims that this is because he himself does not wish to be a public person, and that Haukland had to relate to boundaries because he himself is a member of the Crown Prince family. In a text message, he asks Haukland to raise with the Crown Prince couple where the boundaries lie. Hoiby admits that he has slapped Haukland in the face with an open hand, but explains that she also slapped him with an open hand. He denies, however, that he has punched her with a fist, kicked her or choked her. Hoiby explains that he does not recognise himself in her account and believes that she has not had reason to be afraid of him. He claims they moved to Skaugum because they were allowed to live there free of charge. Hoiby expresses being upset over Haukland’s description of the Crown Prince couple; he says that the Crown Prince couple have wanted to help him and that they “have only been kind”.

The evidence

The prosecution has presented text messages, photos and recordings that support parts of Haukland’s testimony. Several witnesses have testified about the turbulent relationship and several have witnessed loud abusive arguments between the two. The arguments are often said to have been triggered by jealousy and because they checked each other’s mobile phones. Two witnesses explain that independently of each other, on two different occasions, they saw Hoiby press Haukland against the wall and take hold of her neck. A couple of witnesses say they have seen minor injuries on Haukland; several witnesses explain that they have seen damage to inventory and holes in a door and wall. Several witnesses explain that they observed that Haukland became more withdrawn and that she appeared worried; some became concerned for her.

The defence, through questioning of witnesses, its own witnesses and review of text messages between Hoiby and Haukland, has to some extent brought forward that Haukland contributed to the arguments. However, they have not presented concrete evidence or testimony that directly disproves that Hoiby punched Haukland with a fist, kicked her or choked her.

The Crown Prince couple have not been questioned and have not testified in the case.

It remains to be seen whether the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence for Marius Borge Hoiby to be convicted on this count. Tomorrow, the trial continues with the indictment related to the Frogner woman.

Samfunn og Politikk sends its thoughts to victims of rape and domestic violence.

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